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'Poor Little Rich Girl' Died Broke Despite Fortune
17 Oct
Summary
- Barbara Hutton inherited nearly $1 billion but died with only $3,500.
- She endured seven marriages, losing fortunes through settlements.
- Hutton lost her only son, Lance, in a tragic plane crash.
Barbara Hutton, born into the Woolworth empire in 1912, became one of the world's wealthiest women, with a fortune nearing $1 billion by today's standards. This immense inheritance, however, was overshadowed by personal tragedies and excessive spending.
Her early life was marked by the loss of her mother at age four and subsequent displacement. By her 21st birthday in 1933, amid the Great Depression, she had accumulated substantial trust funds and inherited millions.
Hutton's life was further defined by seven marriages, through which she acquired titles such as princess, countess, and baroness. These unions, however, significantly depleted her fortune, with some husbands receiving large settlements.
Despite finding love with actor Cary Grant, whom she considered her favorite husband, many marriages ended due to financial drains. The most notorious divorce involved Porfirio Rubirosa, who received a substantial settlement after a brief marriage.
The heiress's life culminated in profound loss with the 1972 death of her only son, Lance, in a plane crash. Barbara Hutton passed away in 1979 at age 66 in a Beverly Hills hotel penthouse, with only $3,500 remaining from her vast inheritance.
